McKeown Medical
167 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4SQ
Why We Introduced Sofwave® at McKeown Medical: Real Patients, Real Results, and Honest Evidence
Investing in new technology for the clinic is something I take extremely seriously. Devices in aesthetics are expensive, heavily marketed, and often come with bold promises—but as all doctors know, not every device delivers in the real world the way it does in a manufacturer’s brochure. They often end up as expensive ornaments, gathering dust in a cupboard somewhere because we cannot recommend them to our patients.
Published by Dr Darren McKeown
Date posted — 20.11.25
At McKeown Medical, our philosophy is simple: we only offer treatments that genuinely work—and we only know that by testing them ourselves, on real patients, before ever recommending them.
This is the story of how Sofwave® made it into our practice… and why many other devices never do.
The Problem With New Aesthetic Technology
Every year, dozens of new “skin-tightening,” “lifting,” or “collagen-building” machines are launched. Many sound impressive. Many are backed by glossy videos, paid-for influencer endorsements, and manufacturer-funded studies.
But marketing doesn’t equal medicine.
Over the years, I’ve tested countless devices claiming to tighten skin, reduce wrinkles, lift the jawline, or rejuvenate the face. A small number have been excellent. A large number have been underwhelming. And some didn’t work at all.
We have a strict rule in our clinic:
If we can’t see the improvement with our own eyes on real patients, measured over time, we don’t buy it. We don’t offer it. We don’t recommend it.
Putting Sofwave® to the Test
When I first looked at Sofwave, I was cautiously optimistic. Ultrasound-based collagen heating is not new—but Sofwave claimed to deliver the right temperature, at the right depth, to stimulate collagen and elastin safely in the skin without damaging fat beneath it.
That last point was crucial.
Some energy-based devices can inadvertently heat fat pads, creating the very volume loss and “hollowness” patients fear. Sofwave, by design, targets only the dermis—not the deeper fat layer.
The science looked good. But I never rely on theory alone. So, as always, I asked the representative to bring the machine into the clinic so I could use it on real patients—patients I know, trust, and can follow carefully over the weeks and months that matter.
Meet Our Test Patient
One of the first people to try Sofwave® with us was a patient who was concerned about early signs of skin laxity—particularly around her jawline and neck. She wanted improvement but wasn’t ready for anything invasive.
She had the lower face and neck treated with Sofwave, exactly as we would deliver it in routine practice.
And then we waited.
Because with collagen-stimulating treatments, time tells the truth.
The Results: Before, 6 Weeks, and 12 Weeks
The reason we follow up for 12 weeks is that is the time it takes for collagen to remodel and the skin tightening to become evidence.
As you can see, there was a significant improvement over the 12 week period after treatment with Sofwave®. The patient was delighted—but more importantly, the results were exactly the kind of measurable improvement we look for before introducing any technology to the clinic.
Why Sofwave® Passed, and Many Other Devices Don’t
I want to be transparent about something:
For every device we bring into the clinic, there are several that we test and choose not to invest in.
Sometimes the results are too subtle.
Sometimes the downtime doesn’t match the promise.
Sometimes patients feel the discomfort outweighs the benefit.
Sometimes the manufacturer’s claims simply don’t hold up in real life.
Our job isn’t to buy machines: it’s to get results. I am very glad that Sofwave® delivered the kind of results I felt confident standing behind.
Why We Now Offer Sofwave® at McKeown Medical
After testing the tech and seeing the results in our own patients, we made the decision to introduce Sofwave® into our practice.
We chose it because:
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it targets only the skin, not the fat
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it stimulates natural collagen and elastin
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clinical results are predictable, measurable, and safe
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improvement continues for weeks and months
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our own patient testing showed genuine, visible tightening
This aligns with the way we practice medicine: evidence-based, patient-centred, and results-driven.
If you’re curious about whether Sofwave® might be a good option for you, we’d encourage you to book a consultation with one of our clinicians to discuss your aesthetic goals in more detail.
Book your consultation
Contact us today to arrange a consultation and discover which treatment option is right for you.
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Laser eye rejuvenation! Thank you to our lovely patient for allowing us to share her photos, just one week after her laser eyelid rejuvenation.
Crepe skin, loose skin, wrinkles are all common signs of ageing around the eye which do not respond well to surgery. The optimal treatment for these problems is laser resurfacing - which is exactly what this patient had.
We’ve been performing these treatments in the clinic for several years, although I’ve recently modified the technique to achieve incredible results with less downtime.
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Here’s another fantastic result from our phenomenally talented plastic surgeon, @bramhallplasticsurgery .
As we age, the eyebrows naturally descend which allows excess skin to fall into the upper eyelids. The two main surgical options to address this are a brow lift, an upper eyelid lift (upper blepharoplasty) or both, but for many patients the most appropriate option is also the simplest: to leave the brows exactly where they are and address the excess skin at the eyelids alone.
Upper blepharoplasty is a straightforward procedure with scars hidden in the natural eyelid crease, making them very hard to see once healed. Brow lifts are usually more involved, often require a general anaesthetic, and tend to create a more noticeable change to the face.
The aim with upper eyelid surgery is subtle improvement - looking fresher and more rested, without it being obvious that you’ve had anything done.
This 42-year-old gentleman had a bilateral upper blepharoplasty under local anaesthetic and is shown here six months after surgery.
What do you think?
With darker evenings and fewer social engagements, January is a great time to think about treatments which benefit from a little down time or those that will deliver their best results by spring.
Here’s Dr Darren with his top recommendations for treatments to have over the winter months, including Sofwave, HALO, full-field resurfacing and varicose vein treatment, all of which will deliver beautiful results in time for the weather getting better and social calendars filling up!
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Another year, another round of incredible transformations from our team at McKeown Medical!
Eye bags banished, jowls lifted, skin refined, veins gone. Thank you so much to all of our patients who have allowed us to share their photos with you and thank you to our incredible team who work so hard to take care of every patient who trusts us with their care.
Here’s to 2026 and another year of incredible transformations!
“But Daddies, WHEN is Santa coming? I want to wait up for him!”
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night 🎅🏻
Laser rejuvenation of the eye area can be an incredibly powerful tool for the right patients, especially those whose ‘bags’ are more about loose skin and fine lines, like this lovely patient here.
We treated her with full field ablation, which takes around 2 weeks to recover from. Her she is a few weeks later and you can see how much tighter the skin is, the crepey skin has gone and the fine lines have been ironed out. The patient is over the moon.
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Eyelid surgery is one of the most popular procedures we do in the clinic. It’s a great fix for hooded eyes! Excess skin on the upper eyelids can not only create a hooded, heavy appearance but often affects the vision too.
Here’s the very talented @bramhallplasticsurgery discussing how upper eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) can restore a more open, refreshed look by removing the excess skin and subtly redefining the natural eyelid crease. Scars are hidden within the fold of the eyelid, leaving eyes that look brighter, not “done.”
Do you have any questions about surgery? Ask in the comments or send us a message!
Thank you to our patient for allowing us to share her before and after photos of her upper blepharoplasty.
Excess skin on the upper eyelids can make the eyes appear tired or heavy. This simple procedure restores a lighter, more open look while keeping the result completely natural.
Another fabulous result from the very talented @bramhallplasticsurgery!
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We’ve been in our new home for a year now and I thought this would be a good time to remind you just how special it is with a little video tour.
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Join us on Instagram to keep up with the latest results and expert insights from the clinic team.
Our dedicated team of experts are on hand to help you as you navigate your journey with us.
When you first make contact with us you will be assigned your own personal Patient Relationship Manager. They’ll start by understanding your needs and liaising with our doctors to book you an appointment with the most suitable specialist. For any additional questions or needs, you can message or call them anytime and they’ll be delighted to assist you. Our entire team is dedicated to providing you with the best possible treatment and care tailored to your needs.
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